ABS takes first steps towards national consistent family and domestic violence data

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) today released the first publication of a project aimed at improving the evidence base for family, domestic and sexual violence.

The new Defining the data challenge for family, domestic and sexual violence publication defines and describes the social phenomena of family, domestic and sexual violence in Australia, and aims to put it into a statistically measurable context.

ABS Director of the National Centre for Crime and Justice Statistics, Fiona Dowsley, said the publication forms the building blocks for a common language to help measure family, domestic and sexual violence, across sectors and jurisdictions.

“There are many agencies that collect information about family and domestic violence.

“This new publication will unlock this information to make it more effective for policy making and evaluation,” Ms Dowsley said.

Family, domestic and sexual violence comes at a considerable economic and social cost to the nation. At present, high quality and comprehensive statistical information about family and domestic violence is scarce, and this publication sheds light on the significant challenges faced when trying to quantify these forms of violence.

Defining the data challenge is part of a broader project being conducted by the ABS in partnership with the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) as part of the Commonwealth’s National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children.

A copy of this publication is available for free on the ABS website, or hardcopies are available by calling 1800 050 009.